VIGO CO. – On Thursday, November 4th, at approximately 4:10 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and Vigo County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two-vehicle accident on State Road 63 at Bolton Road involving a construction truck and a Vigo County School Corporation school bus.
The preliminary investigation by an Indiana State Police trooper revealed that Randall Easton, 69, of West Terre Haute, was driving a 2022 International School Bus and was stationary in the crossover of State Road 63 and Bolton Road attempting to go north. A 2020 F450 Ford construction truck driven by 32-year-old Rustin Plunkett, of Delphi, was traveling south in the northbound passing lane removing traffic cones from the construction zone. Easton looked south and observed that northbound traffic on State Road 63 was clear but failed to look to the north. Plunkett, who had pulled into the path of the crossover, still traveling south, was struck by Easton when he accelerated and collided with the construction truck on the passenger side.
A construction worker was on the liftgate, located on the rear of the construction truck, and fell off due to the impact caused by the school bus. This construction worker was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation.
Three students were on the school bus at the time of the accident. No injuries were reported. The parents of the students were contacted and arrived on the scene to take each of them home.
Investigating the accident was Trooper Daniel Organ, assisting at the scene was Trooper Brad Fyfe of the Putnamville State Police Post, Vigo County deputies, West Terre Haute Police Department officer, New Goshen Volunteer Fire Department first responders, Edingtons Wrecker Service, and Peffley and Hinshaw Wrecker Service.
